Beflecting-sign



D. B.- CARSE.

RE FLECTING SIGN. APPLICATION FILED MAY 11. 1 918.

Patented Sept. 16, 1919.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID B. CABSE, F SHARON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T0 SUPERIOR SIGNCOMPANY,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

REFLEGTIIN'G-SIGN.

To all? whom-it may-concern." 4

Be it known that I, DAVID B. CARSE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sharon, in the county of Litchfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain 5 new and useful Improvements inReflecting- Signs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an improvement in illuminated reflecting signletters or characters, and has for its object to provide a series ofoutlining units adapted to partly or wholly form a sign letter,character or symbol, having means for providing continuous reflectingsurfaces, and series of co-acting reflecting facets, arranged at varyingangles with relation to a source of light, in the manner more fullyhereinafter set forth.

Illuminated signs have been heretofore used composed of a series ofindividual reflecting facets extending from a plane base, but withoutany intervening angular surfaces, resultin in a lack of continuity ofthe design, an also utilizing individual sep arately attadhedreflectors.

In order to be practically eflicient, it is also desirable that areflecting sign may be easily visible from a wide range of varying viewpoints at differing levels and angles.

By my invention I provide series of reflecting surfaces and faces whichare practically visible from any point in front of the sign,irrespective of lateral position, within practicable limitations as todistance, because of the supplementing effect of some of the reflectingfaces on others of them, as hereinafter described.

My invention utilizes the entire area of the letter or character,greatly increasing the reflection, and producing continuous out-' linesforming complete unitary or composite characters.

In the drawings, I

a Figure 1 is a face view of the letter E made in accordance with myinvention;

Fi s. 2 and 3 are vertical sections on the lines II, II and III, III ofFig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line IV, IV of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detailview of a unitary element adapted to form part of acurved letter or figure;

Fig, dis a cross section on the line VI, VI of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view Showing a composite reflecting elementpermitting for ad ustab11ity of one member on the other.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 16, 1919. Applicationfiled May 11, 1918. Serial No. 233,880.

In making anentire letter,.figure or other Y symbol, I utilize one ormore unitary base elements A adapted to be secured to a supportingfoundation base 2 by screws 3 at suitable locations.

Each base A is provided with an inclined reflecting face 4 of say 20 anda series of projecting individual reflectors extending therebeyondhaving reflecting facets 5 of a greater inclination, say at 45, to theplane of the base 2.

The reflecting faces 4 and facets 5 are so arranged as to confrontgenerally in the direction of a source of light, as a lamp 6,

the top of which is obscured as by frosting posed at double oppositeangle slopings, as

in the case of the middle unitary base in the letter E, or any othercases in which a base is located between two lamps.

The angles of the several continuous faces 4 and of the individualfacets 5 are variously arranged for the best reflection, with relationto the lamp or lamps. By reason of the continuity of the com arativelyflat or more nearly levelfaces 4 t ey form a reflecting background forthe more hi hly reflecting steeper projecting facets 5. Tliere isthereby provided a continuous unbroken letter or symbol of reflectedlight, accentuated by regularly spaced synchronous facets of greaterbrilliance. If desired, the face or faces 4 or 5 may be broken up by theuse of any suitable means, as individual facets or reflectors, asFresnell lenses.

By my invention, I provide a series of standard units which may be usedin making up any letter of the alphabet, or figure, or other symbol,providing complete continuous reflecting outlines and utilizing theeatest possible lamp-1 power,

In Fig. 7 I show a modified construction 110 in whichthe projectingreflector having the steep facet 5 is provided with an opening in theface 4 of base A, By this construction I am enabled to turn theindividual renumber of elements, angularity of the faces,

etc., by the designer, but all such changes are to be considered aswithin the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is 1. A reflecting sign member adapted to be mounted on aplane su porting surface and to be combined with other similar membersconsisti of a base having a rear plane attaching ace and a reflectingfront portion relatively inclined. thereto.

2. A reflecting sign consisting of a symboloutlining portion having arear attaching base, a reflecting front portion relatively inclinedthereto, and a series of sup lemental reflectors extending beyond saiout-portion.

3. In combination with a supporting base having a lamp extendintherefrom, a symbol-defining element having an inclined face confrontingthe lamp and a series of interal projecting reflectors having reflectingfacets of a steeper angle.

4. A unitary element adapted to form the whole or part of a symbol ofthe class described consisting of a hollow pressedpiece of glass havinga projecting outlining body portion with an inclined surface, and aseries of integral reflecting rojections extending beyond the surface tiereof and having reflecting faces of steeper inclination.

5. A unitary element adapted to form the whole or part of a symbol ofthe class described consisting of a hollow pressed piece of glass havinga projecting outlining body port-ion with an inclined surface, and a series of integral reflecting projections extending beyond the surfacethereof and having reflecting faces of steeper inclination and providedwith an interior coating of suitable reflecting material.

6. A unitary element adapted to form the whole or part of a symbol ofthe class described consistin of a hollow pressed piece of suitablematerial having a rear attaching base and a pirojecting outlining bodyportion provided with a reflecting front relatively inclined to theplane of said base, and a series of separately attached reflectorsextending beyond said reflecting front and having socketed engagementwith said element.

7. ,In combination with a supporting base provided with one or morelamps projecting therefrom, a si character composed of a series ofsuitably arranged main reflecting members attached to the base extendingoutwardly therefrom having main reflecting faces dis osed toward thelamp or lamps and provided with individual projecting reflectors havingsimilarly disposed faces of steeper inclination.

8. In a sign, a plurality of letter elements adapted to be assembled forforming a desired letter and having rear base portions and frontreflecting portions.

9. In a si a plurality of letter elements adapted to ii: assembled forforming a desired letter and having rear base portions and frontreflecting portions, and one or more reflectors adjustably mountedthereon and each having a reflecting surface inclined thereto.

10. In combination with a rear supporting structure having a planeattaching surface, a reflecting sign member consisting of a base havinga rear plane attaching face in holding contact with said attachingsurface and provided with a reflecting front portion relatively inclinedto said rear plane face.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atlix my signature.

DAVID B. CARSE.

